“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
November 1 marks All Saints Day in our life together as people of faith. We will observe it in worship the following day, on Sunday, Nov. 2. All Saints Day is a sacred occasion in the life of the Church, rooted in the ancient Christian tradition. It is a day to remember, honor, and celebrate the faithful who have gone before us—the saints who have lived, died, and passed on their legacy of faith; those whose lives have exemplified the grace and love of Jesus.
On this holy day, as many churches will remember those who have passed away in the last year, we also acknowledge that we are part of a great and unbroken communion of saints—a great cloud of witnesses, both living and departed, all bound together by the love of Christ.
The significance of All Saints Day lies in its reminder that our faith is both personal and communal. We run our individual race, but we do not run alone. We are inspired and sustained by the “great cloud of witnesses” who have shown us how to live faithfully. Their stories encourage us to persevere in our own struggles, and their lives serve as powerful examples to challenge and inspire us to embody God’s love in our world today.
But this day also invites us to reflect on our own legacy. How we are contributing to the ongoing story of God’s love in the world. Every person’s life has the potential to witness to the transformative power of God’s grace, and just as we honor all those saints who have shaped us, we too are called to live lives that bear witness to the gospel, for those around us and those who will come after us.
The arrival of November also means that the Thanksgiving holiday is almost here too. For many people this time of year is a reminder to reflect back on their lives and give thanks for all the wonderful blessings they’ve received.
Thanksgiving became official in the United States in 1863, and in his proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln made very clear whom we needed to thank. Lincoln said, “To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.” In other words, we all need to thank God for our many blessings.
From the beginning of the month when we thank God for the example of the saints and the saintly people in our lives, to the end of the month when we thank God for everything we have and everything we are, November is a time to approach God with a grateful heart.
My friends, we all have so much to be thankful for. I pray that each of us will take a moment to pause, reflect, and see all that God has blessed us with. And as we recognize these blessings, may we joyfully return our thanks to God.
Pastor Tony
